California Labor Law

Summary Content

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​California Employment Law Overview

Each day, California emplo​yers look to CalChamber and HRCalifornia for advice about pressing California employment laws and HR issues, such as sexual harassment and employee compensation law. It can be difficult for employers both large and small to navig​ate California's complex legal requ​irements. Through HRCalifornia, we help our members create effective human resources policies and resolve human resources issues in a manner that conforms to California employment law.

This California employment law overview provides insight ​into the HR topics that our members most frequently contact us about. These introductory articles - drawn from the HRCalifornia Library - are not intended to provide complete compliance information. If you need additional support, access HRCalifornia today through a CalChamber membership. You will receive full access to HRCalifornia's HR Library and regular California employment law updates. CalChamber Preferred and Executive members also get unlimited access to our Labor Law Helpline.

California Employment Law and HR Topics

HRCalifornia provides access to California employment law resources to help you provide the appropriate advice to your California employees and to help you and your human resources team develop and implement appropriate workplace policies.

California Labor Law: Where to Begin

Working in human resources in the state of California requires knowledge of a wide variety of HR topics. In addition to understanding employment law in California, human resources professionals must create company policies, communicate those policies to employees, deal with hiring and termination and handle employee benefits.

Helping You Understand California Employment Law on HRCalifornia

Trying to understand California labor law can be overwhelming, but as a member of CalChamber, you can find the information you need all in one place. Our online HR Library on HRCalifornia is conveniently organized by the topics that are most important to human resources professionals, including benefits, compensation, discrimination, health and safety, time off and more. Whenever you need to know what the minimum compliance is for any HR topic or simply want a better understanding of California employment law, you can find it in the HR Library.

Keeping track of all HR topics can be overwhelming. At HRCalifornia, you'll find many required forms and checklists you need to help you handle any HR issue. The CalChamber Store offers training and products that can help every human resources department stay current on California employment laws.​

Top California Labor Law Issues

The topics below cover some of the most popular areas for which our members search. If you want more information on each topic, just click on the topic name.

Meal and Rest Breaks »Meal and rest break compliance continues to be the source of a great deal of litigation for California employers. Understanding California's meal and rest breaks requirements is extremely important for all California employers.

COBRA »Learn more about the COBRA program and which information you need to provide terminated California employees regarding their health insurance.

Helping Employees Understand California Law

As a California employer, you play many roles in your company. One of them is ensuring that all of your employees understand California employment laws as well as your company HR policies. CalChamber and HRCalifornia have the tools you need to communicate the necessary information to your employees.

An employee handbook is a key tool in communicating information regarding employment laws and human resources policies. CalChamber members have access to useful employee handbook advice and information. We also offer products like Employee Handbook Creator that will help you create an employee handbook that conforms to California employment laws and labor law regulations.

Employee handbooks aren't the only way to communicate with your employees. In addition, California and federal law require all employers to post required posters and notices in a prominent place where they can be viewed by all employees. You can find these required and recommended posters and notices at HRCalifornia and in our CalChamber Store.

Employers are exposed to lawsuits every time they take action related to employees, or when they fail to take necessary action. You can avoid these risks through proper employee training. CalChamber offers products that can help you provide employee and manager training regarding sexual harassment in the workplace and workplace health and safety. Federal and California state laws require that certain training be conducted periodically. CalChamber can help you stay in compliance with these requirements.

Knowing California employment law is an important part of your job. Educate yourself on all of the California laws, communicate with your employees, and find the tools that make your job easier, all at HRCalifornia.

Additional Resources

HR Library Features

The content in this section is drawn from the HRCalifornia HR Library. Many other topics are covered in the library including:

Unemployment Insurance: The Unemployment Insurance (UI) system is a federal/state program. The cost of the program in California is financed by employers through state and federal UI taxes.

Retaliation: Both federal and state laws protect employees and applicants from employer retaliation for engaging in activity protected by anti-discrimination law.

Record Retention: Employers are often confused about which records to keep, how long to keep them and where to store them. Use these resources and tools to clarify your requirements.

ADA and Accessibility: In this section, you'll find information about California accessibility laws and standards, your responsibilities as a business owner or operator, and practical advice on how to help make your California business more accessible to people with disabilities.

To read these topic reviews and other valuable information and advice, become an HRCalifornia member today.

Recent Legal Updates

Members can access reports on the latest California labor laws, how they could affect your company, and what you should do in response, as well as employment law updates and changes to important California and federal legislation.

Membership

With your CalChamber membership, you'll have access to the best and most current HR tools, posters, training materials, labor law information and more through HRCalifornia.com and discounts at the CalChamber Store. Join today!

CalChamber and HRCalifornia are dedicated to ensuring that our members are compliant with all state and federal employment laws in California. Become a member today to enjoy these important benefits.